pn@stc.UUCP (Phil Norris) (08/03/85)
I'd like to solicit information from readers on the net about UNIX boxes for GKS graphics software development. Views and opinions from users of suitable systems will be most welcome, as will approaches from sales staff of system vendors. Please note though, all you system vendors: read the spec below and make sure you can meet it before you waste your time and mine. The system spec is as follows :- System Features Qualifiers/Comments --------------- ------------------- Cost 10,000 pound sterling max. Availability For purchase in U.K. Operating System Must be a full UNIX, preference is 1. Sys V R2 2. Xenix 3 3. 4.2 BSD Winchester disc 45 Mbyte minimum, around 30-45 msec access Tape drive 1/4" streamer, capacity to match or better winchester for mirror security backups Floppy drive Not essential but a single 5 1/4" floppy would give added value. If supplied should preferably be able to read/write multi-standard formats, e.g. CP/M, IBM CPU Preference as follows 1. Natsemi 32016 (32032 for the price?) 2. Motorola 68010 (68020 for the price?) 3. Motorola 68000 4. Intel/Zilog as last resort (I HATE SEGMENTATION!) Memory management Would much prefer demand paged virtual (who wouldn't?) but not essential Memory size 1 Mbyte minimum, preferably expandable Floating point Hardware FPU required (see graphics below) Graphics hardware Preference as follows, but obviously the ideal may well cost too much 1. 1024H x 800V, 8/16 colour from 4096 2. 800H x 640V, 8/16 colour from 4096 3. 1024H x 800V monochrome 4. 800H x 800V monochrome 5. 512H x 512V colour or mono It is assumed that graphics will be bit mapped and not a terminal (i.e. workstation concept) Graphics software GKS is ESSENTIAL, repeat ESSENTIAL and it must provide a user interface in C and support hardware FPU and have plotter support. Preference is for Level 2b. Graphics support device Mouse support is required. Any mouse supplied must be a quality device (cheapos are not on) Backplane interconnect Proprietary backplanes are out. Preferred backplanes are 1. VME 2. Multibus 3. IBM PC compatible (assumes a single board computer as motherboard) 4. S100 For your possible interest, I recently purchased a machine which met most of the criteria above, including price. Unfortunately, it looks like the machine will have to go back from whence it came, because the GKS software has proved to be totally unworkable. The computer is (was?) 68010 based running Uniplus+ Sys V, 1 Mbyte RAM, 45 Mbyte winnie, 45 Mbyte streamer, FPU, mouse, 8 from 4096 colour graphics @ 800H x 640V displayed from 1024H x 1024V and very buggy GKS. So, I'm in the market for an alternative machine, only this time I want one with GKS that works. Responses directly to me please, and I'll summarise and report to the net. --- Thanks in anticipation, Phil Norris email to: pn@stc.UUCP write to: Phil Norris 61 Ravenscourt Drive Hornchurch Essex RM12 6HP England